AT&T Legal Policy threatens to cancel service for criticizing AT&T and its affiliates

AT&T is one of the largest providers of mobile phone,
home phone and internet access in the United States. In many areas, AT&T is
the only choice for phone and data services. AT&T has updated its legal
policy with new standards, which if enforced, could leave customers without
service.

The new legal policy takes away a customer’s right to
criticize AT&T without the fear of losing their service. In many rural
areas where the only phone provider and Internet service provider is AT&T,
this effectively means that any criticism of AT&T could leave them without
data service. The section of the AT&T Legal Policy that takes away the
customers constitutional right to free speech reads:

5.1 Suspension/Termination… [AT&T] may
immediately terminate or suspend all or a portion of your Service, any Member
ID, electronic mail address, IP address, Universal Resource Locator or domain
name used by you, without notice, for conduct that AT&T believes (c) tends to damage the name or reputation of
AT&T, or its parents, affiliates and subsidiaries.

Some will say that AT&T has the right to refuse service
to anyone. At the same time, others will say that refusing service to someone for
simply criticizing AT&T is infringing on the right to free speech. For many
Internet access is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Many business professionals
work from home and use broadband Internet access to connect to corporate
networks. For those that are tied in with AT&T’s service (by choice or
because there are no other options available), one should be careful not to
step on AT&T’s toes or face disconnection.

Another item of note is that if AT&T decides to disconnect your service for
any reason, they can delete any files you have, including emails, without
notification. What is not clear from the policy is if criticizing any AT&T
service can result in termination of your AT&T data service. If you get an
iPhone and complain in comments here at DailyTech
because the update breaks your unlocked iPhone, could you lose
your AT&T data services?

Updated 10/2/2007AT&T has issued the following statement with regards to the above policy:

AT&T respects its subscribers' rights to voice their opinions and
concerns over any matter they wish. However, we retain the right to
disassociate ourselves from websites and messages explicitly advocating
violence, or any message that poses a threat to children (e.g. child
pornography or exploitation). We do not terminate customer service
solely because a customer speaks negatively about AT&T. This policy
is not new and it's not unique to AT&T.

"The whole principle [of censorship] is wrong. It's like demanding that grown men live on skim milk because the baby can't have steak." -- Robert Heinlein